Short answer: the Kali Audio LP-6 V2. It ranks #25 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $398; the Cambridge Audio L/R X ranks #47 and costs $2399, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Kali Audio LP-6 V2 offers: Erin’s measurements give a 6.62 ideal-subwoofer score and 42.5Hz -3dB bass extension, a strong combination for an affordable nearfield monitor. The waveguide and placement switches help with practical setup, and the second generation improves close-range noise behavior. Watch for: The 2.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz leaves some tonal unevenness. Vertical crossover behavior makes ear-height placement important, and compression limits loud bass playback. Its good tonal score is not evidence of the output capability of a much larger monitor.
What the Cambridge Audio L/R X offers: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured wide, even horizontal dispersion (a broad flare out to about the -6dB point around 1.5 to 3kHz) and deeper extension than the smaller L/R S, with an F3 of about 43Hz and F10 of about 37Hz. In-app DSP for room size, speaker distance from the front wall, and reflective surface type gave an audible change in bass tightness in testing. Connectivity covers HDMI eARC, RCA aux, a moving-magnet phono input, optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi streaming, and a subwoofer output, making it a full living-room hub rather than just a stereo pair. Watch for: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison. Vertical dispersion is narrower and asymmetric than the L/R S, at about plus 20 to minus 10 degrees, because the greater distance between the tweeter and mid-woofer creates more lobing, so listening height and stand placement matter more. Multitone distortion rides close to the 3% threshold at 96dB measured at 1 meter in the far field, limiting headroom for loud, wide-band material. Output falls off quickly below about 50Hz, so home-theater use with deep bass content benefits from an added subwoofer.
Buy the Kali Audio LP-6 V2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Cambridge Audio L/R X and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio LP-6 V2 | Cambridge Audio L/R X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $398 per pair | $2,399.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #25 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #47 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39.1Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) | - |
| Drivers | 1" soft-dome tweeter; 6.5" woofer | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5" mid-woofers, 2x 6" side-firing passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 40W LF + 40W HF per speaker; Bi-amplified Class D | 800W total (400W per speaker) |
| Inputs | XLR, balanced TRS and RCA | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.8"W x 10.2"D | 7.9" (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) |
| DSP | Yes; boundary presets and LF/HF trims | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction |
| Maximum SPL | Approximately 102dB per pair with good measured linearity (Erin's Audio Corner) (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.67 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.62 | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| App | - | Yes |
| Weight | - | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Kali Audio LP-6 V2 compares with other leading options:
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs AsciLab C8C
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs Mesanovic CDM65
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- Genelec 8351B vs Kali Audio LP-6 V2
- Neumann KH420 vs Kali Audio LP-6 V2
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Kali Audio LP-6 V2: $398 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Erin’s measurements give a 6.62 ideal-subwoofer score and 42.5Hz -3dB bass extension, a strong combination for an affordable nearfield monitor. The waveguide and placement switches help with practical setup, and the second generation improves close-range noise behavior. Measured bass extension of 42Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 2.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz leaves some tonal unevenness. Vertical crossover behavior makes ear-height placement important, and compression limits loud bass playback. Its good tonal score is not evidence of the output capability of a much larger monitor.
Full Kali Audio LP-6 V2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W LF + 40W HF per speaker; Bi-amplified Class D |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39.1Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DSP | Yes; boundary presets and LF/HF trims |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.8"W x 10.2"D |
| Drivers | 1" soft-dome tweeter; 6.5" woofer |
| Inputs | XLR, balanced TRS and RCA |
| Maximum SPL | Approximately 102dB per pair with good measured linearity (Erin's Audio Corner) (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.62 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Cambridge Audio L/R X: $2,399.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured wide, even horizontal dispersion (a broad flare out to about the -6dB point around 1.5 to 3kHz) and deeper extension than the smaller L/R S, with an F3 of about 43Hz and F10 of about 37Hz. In-app DSP for room size, speaker distance from the front wall, and reflective surface type gave an audible change in bass tightness in testing. Connectivity covers HDMI eARC, RCA aux, a moving-magnet phono input, optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi streaming, and a subwoofer output, making it a full living-room hub rather than just a stereo pair. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB).
Cons: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison. Vertical dispersion is narrower and asymmetric than the L/R S, at about plus 20 to minus 10 degrees, because the greater distance between the tweeter and mid-woofer creates more lobing, so listening height and stand placement matter more. Multitone distortion rides close to the 3% threshold at 96dB measured at 1 meter in the far field, limiting headroom for loud, wide-band material. Output falls off quickly below about 50Hz, so home-theater use with deep bass content benefits from an added subwoofer.
Full Cambridge Audio L/R X review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 800W total (400W per speaker) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| DSP | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction |
| Dimensions | 7.9" (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) |
| Drivers | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5" mid-woofers, 2x 6" side-firing passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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